Her tweed capes, fingerless gloves, chunky knitted jumpers and boots have become almost as big of a draw to The Traitors as the thrilling game of deception itself.
But when Claudia Winkleman presented the first series of The Traitors in 2021, she required just 12 outfits, one per episode.
Now, four series and 12 million viewers later, the 53-year-old needs 36 outfits – three per episode – which take months to prepare, according to her stylist.
Sinead McKeefry, who has worked with the TV presenter for 20 years, told the Radio Times: ‘We lock everything down in London. It’s like prepping for a catwalk show and moving everything from one location to another.’
The former Strictly host’s infamous wardrobe takes three months to prepare, with backup options and wet weather gear for any eventuality.
Once selected, the outfits are transported up to Scotland lying flat in the back of a van.
Traitors presenter Claudia Winkleman needs 36 outfits – three per episode – which take months to prepare, according to her stylist
Claudia’s tweed capes, fingerless gloves, chunky knitted jumpers and boots have become almost as big of a draw to The Traitors as the thrilling game of deception itself
The former Strictly host’s infamous wardrobe takes three months to prepare, with backup options and wet weather gear for any eventuality
Over their two decades of collaboration, McKeefry has also put together Winkleman’s wardrobe for Strictly Come Dancing.
She said: ‘Strictly was the most glamorous we’d ever go, but it still had a masculine edge to it and we kept it quite chic and pared back. The Piano is where you’ll see the real Claudia. That’s how Claudia would naturally dress, just a little more polished. She loves a Uniqlo jumper, and that’s what she gets. With The Traitors, we can be a lot more editorial, edgy and creative.’
Reminiscing on the first series, which aired in 2021, Ms McKeefry, 51, said: ‘We didn’t really know what we were doing.
‘Everyone was working out what the format was. There was talk of Claud wearing a parrot on her shoulder. She’s up for anything, but I was like, ‘I don’t think we should make it pantomime.’
McKeefry also said that dressing Winkleman for the show allowed her to incorporate some of the star’s favourite accessories, including fingerless gloves and wrist warmers.
She said: ‘Claudia’s always worn wrist warmers. One year, at the end of Strictly Come Dancing, she bought the hair and make-up girls and me some Johnstons of Elgin wrist warmers.
Sinead McKeefry, who has worked with the TV presenter for 20 years, said that dressing Winkleman for the show allowed her to incorporate some of the star’s favourite accessories, including fingerless gloves and wrist warmers
When Claudia presented the first series of The Traitors in 2021, she required just 12 outfits, one per episode
‘It was really easy to incorporate fingerless gloves as part of The Traitors looks, but production really wanted red murder gloves and I was really resistant in the beginning.
‘That is not something you’re ever going to see on a mood board of mine.
‘It’s not working with my sludgy colours. Red against black is so cringe. I went on Amazon, got a couple of options, and the least offensive were these thinner fingerless ones.’
The first episode of the fourth series, where 22 contestants compete for up to £120,000, with the Faithful attempting to banish the Traitors, was the show’s most-watched to date, peaking at 6.9 million viewers.
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